During December 2010 and January 2011, GEARNET held research scoping meetings with each Sector and with members of the Common Pool to capture/document urgent fisheries research needs, as perceived by the Northeast groundfish fishermen; the research needs were not restricted to gear conservation research.

The specific goals of these meetings included:

• Introduce the GEARNET research concept to each industry group, and present examples of past gear conservation research of relevance to each sector;
  
  
• Discuss the fisheries research needs most crucial to each groundfish sector (these will be reported back to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center to help shape future funding opportunies for research with industry);
  
  
• Discuss in detail and prioritize all research needs related to fishing gear;
  
  
• Help each Sector to develop scientific research concepts or gear demonstration requests that can be presented to the GEARNET Technical Committee by February 28th 2011.

To find out the suggestions made by your sector, please contact the relevant GEARNET participant.

In March 2011, the GEARNET Technical Committee selected a minimum of one research/demonstration project per Sector, based on each Sector's proposed research ideas.